Pleurisy or heart attack? (not emergency - but important)?

Hello -
I have Lupus and have had bouts of pleurisy, which if you don't know, is when the the lining of the lungs and chest wall get swollen and inflamed and it really hurts to breathe in.

I have had it for a long time and it comes and goes and when I was diagnosed with Lupus a few years ago [which I'm being treated for with immunosuppressants] I was told that pleurisy is a fairly common symptom.

Anyways for my question:
I'm in my mid 30's and realized that I also am getting old enough to be at a higher risk for a heart attack. getting old is no fun :)

they symptoms for a heart attack seem to be very similar to what I normally feel with the pleurisy when it acts up. my chest hurts really really bad, esp when I take a breath. if anyone with pleurisy sees this question, that'd be great to have your input.

I'm wondering how you tell the difference between just the annoying but not life threatening pleurisy vs a real heart attack? I have 1 more point and I'll post it in the details

i was just asking this question because a few minutes ago i had the normal pleurisy pain that lasted for a few minutes but is now gone.

while i appreciate the help, please don't just copy/paste webmd's heart attack signs. i've gone through them but this is a confusing topic for me, and i think only someone that has this issue or is a dr. could help.

also, i know that if it gets severe or abnormal i would call 911. but since i get pleurisy symptoms at least a few times a week, its obviously not feasible to go to the hospital every time.

i guess i'm just hoping someone could help me find what obvious signs that i would notice if a true heart attack were to happen. thank you to anyone that reads this and i truly appreciate anyone's help

Hi! Hopefully I can be of some assistance with your symptoms. My wife was diagnosed with SLE at age 15 and is currently 30. She spent time in the hospital last year (2 months) for 'pleurisy'. She was having her typical chest pains that she gets some times and figured it would subside. When we finally went to the emergency room her triponin level (the level used to show if you've had damage to the heart muscle) was 200 times normal. She had a heart attack and didn't even know it. She went into cardiac arrest seven times while in ICU and eventually had to have a pacemaker/defibulator put in. I tell you this story not to frighten you but to let you know that doctors can be quick to dismiss your chest pain as pleurisy but it can be something far more severe. If you're having chest pain always see a doctor immediately. Insist on a EKG and blood work to rule out the possibility of a heart attack. I wish you the best of luck in the future!!

pleurisy pain is when the two membraneswhich envelop the lungs and line the chest cavity (pleura) become inflamed causing the severe pain you are feeling which worsens on breathing in(inspiration).
a heart attack is caused by coronary arteries being blocked by blood clots and cutting off or restricting the blood flow to the heart muscle which causes the pains felt during a heart attack. if its a heart attack it is imperative to head to a hospital where emergency room physicians will treat the condition where as chest pains resulting from pleurisy can be treated by pain medication and rest.

Hi, I'm a lupus patient and suffered exactly what you're going thru for the past 23 years. I thought people would think I was nuts if I told them.

I'm sorry for the pain that you are going thru. I know how sore and afraid you must be. I am not a doctor, so i cannot give you medical advice. I can just offer my support and a open heart if you ever need one.

My docs have me on a muscle relaxer with asthma meds to help with my breathing. I was on Prednisone off and on for over 20 years. I'm getting off of it now.

My lungs are not very strong right now. But my heart is relatively okay. I'm able to tell now the difference between the two and not panic when the pleuricy acts up.

I have to take shallow breaths and I get very tired, but I make things work because I have to.

You can email me whenever you need some support.

Good luck and God Bless.

This Patient Guide is written for the loved ones of heart patients who are dealing with the short-term stress that comes with a test, procedure or recent diagnosis of heart disease. It explains why support is so important to a loved one with heart disease. It also offers practical strategies on how to support a loved one while also taking care of yourself.